Safety device for gas-lamps.



F. HU'I'TENLOGHER.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR GAS LAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1911.

1,043,938, u Patented Nov. 12,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

mun up COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 00., WASHINGTON, D. c.

F. HUTTENLOGHER.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR GAS LAMPS. V APPLIOATION 111,111) AUG.1'7, 1911.

Patented Nov. 12,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH KID-.WASHINUTON. D. c.

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FRIEDRICH HUTTENLOGHER, 0F CHARLOTTENBURG, GERMANY.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR GAS-LA1VIPS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH HUTTEN- LOCHER, a subject of the King ofl/Vurtterm berg, and resident of 29 Gervinusstrasse, Charlottenburg,near Berlin, German Empire, have invented a new and useful Safety Devicefor Gas-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved device for use in conjunction withgas lamps and the like for the purpose of preventing the escape ofunburnt gas on omission to ignite the gas or on the flame beingext-inguished without the gas cock being turned into its off position.Heretofore it has been usual for this purpose to employ thermo static orspring devices actuating the gas cock or the like, but owing to thefriction of the parts to be operated, such devices have usually provedinoperative inasmuch as they are often incapable of exerting suflicientforce to overcome the friction of the parts. Thermostatic devices aremoreover slow in operation so that additional mechanically operatingmeans must be provided, thus in creasing the friction of the parts to beoperated.

According to the present invention I provide a combined thermostat andcut off de vice, the latter being made as far as possible frictionlessin its movement. The device is inserted in the gas pipe and is soarranged that, on opening the gas cock, it is moved to cut off the gassupply. If the gas is not opportunely ignited or becomes extinguished,the cut-off device completes its movement and cuts off the gas supply,while on the other hand the ignition of the gas actuates the thermostatto prevent the cut-off device from completing its out off movement. The

arrangement is such that the thermostat is.

not required to accomplish any positive The movable member of the cutoff device may either form the valve itself or it may actuate amechanical valve or liquid seal. In the latter case the liquid seal maybe formed integrally with the movable member.

My invention also comprises various other details of construction whichwill be hereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 is a view partly in section show ing an incandescent gas lampand one form of device for preventing the escape of gas therefrom, saiddevice being inserted between the main gas cook and the burner gasSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 17, 1911.

Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

Serial No. 644,659.

cock. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a modified form of the device shownin Fig. 1, the device being in this case inserted in the gas pipingbetween the burner gas cock and the burner itself. Figs. 37 illustrate amodified form of the device illustrated in Fig. 2, Figs. 35 showing thedevice in vertical vection on the line EF of Fig. 6, and in thediiferent positions assumed. Fig. 3 shows the device in the position ofrest. Fig. 4 the position on igniting the gas and during the burning ofthe lamp, and Fig. 5 the cutoff position of the device, when the burnergas cock is opened. Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line AB ofFig. 5 and Fig. 7 is a partial section on the line CD of Fig. 5. Fig. 8is a vertical section showing a slight modification of the deviceillustrated in Figs. 37, the View showing the device in cut-offposition.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings 1 indicates the burner gas cock and2 the gas service pipe. Fitted on the gas service pipe 2 is a tank 12adapted to contain mercury or other suitable liquid and passingcentrally through this tank is a pipe 3 connected at one end to the gasservice pipe 2 and open at its upper end. Fitting on the upper open endof the pipe 3 is a perforated sleeve 13 which is carried centrally by ahell 4 dipping into the mercury in the liquid tank 12, the mercury thusforming a liquid seal. The top of the bell 4 is provided with adepression 11 or any other suit-able means adapted, when the bell l isin its lowermost position, to close the open end of the pipe 3. Openinginto the bell 4 is the gas pipe 5 leading to the burner gas cook 1 andto the burner. In proximity to the gas flame is provided a thermostat ofany known type which is connected by means of a tube 7 with a chamber 8provided with a diaphragm 9. The thermostat is preferably of the fluidor liquid type so that upon expansion of the fluid the diaphragm 9 movesoutwardly. The diaphragm 9 carries a stop 10 which is adapted to engagea projection 6 on the bell 1.

The operation of the device hereinbefore described is as follows :Thedrawing shows the position assumed by the several parts when the gas isignited at the burner.. As

shown the burner gas cock 1 is opened and gas from the service pipe 2 issupplied to the burner through the pipe 5 as shown by the arrows. Thepressure of the gas within the bell 1 maintains the bell somewhat liftedso that gas can issue from the open end of the tube 3, and the bell 4 ismaintained in raised position by the stop 10 engaging the projection 6,the stop 10 being held in engaging position by the expansion of thefluid in the tube 7 acting on the diaphragm 9. If now it is assumed thatthe flame be extinguished by wind or the like, the fluid in the tube 7will contract thus retracting the diaphragm 9 and stop 10 whereupon thehell 4 will gradually fall until the depression 11 closes the aperturein the end of the pipe 3. The bell 4 is so weighted as to fall by itsown weight on the retraction of the stop 10. It will be seen that inthis position the supply of gas to the burner will be cut off. In orderto ignite the burner it is necessary to raise the bell 4 by hand or byconvenient means, and if itis assumed that the gas cock 1 is now closed,gas will enter the interior of the hell 4 and raise the latter until theweight of the hell 4 equalizes the gas pressure. On thereupon openingthe gas cock 1 the bell will gradually fall by its own weight owing tothe fact that the opening of the gas cook 1 relieves the pressure of gaswithin the hell 4. If now the gas at the burner is not ignited within apredetermined period the bell 4 will have fallen to such an extent as tobe beyond the stop 10 and will thereupon close the end of the pipe 3. Ifon the other hand, the gas issuing from the burner is ignited before thebell 4 has fallen any considerable amount, the expansion of the fluid inthe pipe 7 will actuate the stop 10 which coacting with the projection 6will prevent further downward movement of the bell 4 so that the partswill then be in the position illustrated at Fig. 1.

It will of course be readily understood that instead of the depression11 for closing the open end of the pipe 3 any other suitable valve meansmay be employed, and if desired, a liquid seal valve may be employed.

In cases where the burner gas cock isiconsiderably removed from theburner, as is for example often the case in inverted incandescent gaslamps the application of the device hereinbefore described mightoccasion diliiculties and moreover detract from the appearance of thegas fitting. In this case the arrangement illustrated at Fig. 2 may beused, which may be inserted between the burner gas cock and the burnerand it may be in proximity to the burner so that the necessity for longconnections is obviated. In this arrangement the tank 15 containing themercury or other liquid seal carries internally a support 14 to which ispivoted a double armed lever 16, one arm of which is pivotally connectedto a rod 17 se cured to the hell 4 dipping into the liquid. Gas issupplied to the interior of the bell 4by way of a pipe 18 which leadsfrom the burner gas cock while the gas is supplied directly to theburner without the intervention of a gas cook through the pipe 19, theinlet end of which is adapted to be closed by the end 11 of thedouble-armed lever 16. The movement of the hell 4 is also in this caseadapted to be limited by means of a projection 10 on the diaphragm 9 ofthe thermostat 8. The operation in this case is as follows :On openingthe gas cook in the pipe 18, gas enters the interior of the bell 4 andraises the latter. Through the medium of the levers 17 and 16, the valve11 approaches the open end of the pipe 191 If the gas issuing at theburner is ignited the diaphragm 9 and stop 10 will be actuated by thethermostat 8 so as to limit the upward movement of the hell 4 andthereby prevent the closing of the open end of the pipe 19 by the valve11. If, however, the gas is not ignited or should the flame beextinguished, the stop 10 will be retracted and the hell 4 will thuscontinue its movement until the valve 11 tightly closes the open end ofthe pipe 19 and prevents further supply of the gas to the burner.

It will be readily seen that high pressures are quite unnecessary to setthe apparatus in operation. Even where the gas is at a very lowpressure, gas will collect in the hell 4 and gradually raise the lattersothat the valve 11 will automatically prevent further supply of gas.This is furthermore possible inasmuch as owing to arranging the bell 4in a liquid seal, the latter is as far as possible, frictionless in itsmovement, and thus admits of the proper operation of the valve 11.

In the modification shown in Figs. 37 31 is a substantially cylindricaltank or receptacle preferably made in two partstelescoped together, thiscylindrical part 31 being in connection with a smaller lateral andsubstantially cylindrical tank 32. The tank 31 is provided with aconnection 33 to which is screwed the piping leading from the burner gascook and with a connection 34 to which is connected the burner itself,or a pipe leading directly to the burner. The interior of the tank 31 isin connection with the gas connection 33 through openings 35, 36 and 37,in a plate spaced some distance from the connection 33, this plate beingpreferably formed integral with tubes 38, 39 and 40. The central tube 40extends somewhat higher in the tank 31 than the tubes 38 39 and extendsinto a downwardly projecting tube .41 connected to the outlet gasconnection 34. The upper end of the tube 40 is provided with openings 42and with a downwardly directed cap 43 fitting within the tube 41. Anannular float or bell 44 preferably constructed in two parts, is

fitted over the tubes 38, 39, 40 passing 7 through concentric tubes 45,46 and 47 carried by the member 44. The floating member 44 is preferablyprovided with a loading ring 48 and its central tube 47 is providiedwith openings 49 toward its upper en Depending into the tank andpreferably into the side tank 32 is an open tube 50 opening into thewidened upper end 51 of a tube 54 which is provided with upwardly anddownwardly directed arms 52 and 53 in direct connection with the tube54. The downwardly directed tubular arm 53 is open at its lower end andcommunicates at its upper end with a tube 55 terminating at its otherend in a thermostatic device 56 which in this case is shown as a closedcylindrical chamber. The side tank 32 is also provided with twodownwardly directed tubes 57 and 58, the tube 57 serving to guide aresetting device which comprises a rod 59 passing t-herethrough into theinterior of the tank 31 and terminating above the floating member 44 ina ring 60. The outer end of the rod 59 is fitted with an operating knob61 and is held in raised position under the action of the spring 62. Thetube 58 serves for the introduction of the liquid.

The operation of the device is as follows :1n the position shown at Fig.3 the device is in the position of rest and the liquid at same levelthroughout the apparatus. If gas is now. admitted through the connection33, the gas is distributed to the tubes 38, 39 and 40 as indicated bythe arrows in Fig. 4. Gas therefore enters the interior of the floatmember 44, while a part of the gas passes through the openings 42beneath the cap 43 andrises through the tube 41 and from thence to theconnection 34. The gas entering the float member 44, depresses the levelof the liquid therein and the liquid gradually escapes into the tank 31through a small aperture 63 in the bottom of the float member 44. Themember at the same time gradually rises and would thereupon cut off thegas supply by the liquid in the annular space 64 between the floatmember 44 and its central tube 47 sealing the connection between theinterior of the cap 42 and the tube 41, but this does not immediatelytake place owing to the fact that a part of the liquid in the space 64can escape through the apertures 49 into the tube 47 and from there tothe tanks 31. As the member 44 gradually rises, the air above'the liquidin the tanks 31 and 32 escapes through the pipe 50 into the atmosphere.If now the gas issuing to the burner is opportunely ignited, thethermostatic device 56 will come into operation and the expansion of thefluid therein will cause the liquid in the tube 54 to rise in theenlarged upper part 51 until the outlet of air through the pipe 50 isout off. Thereupon the air trapped in the tanks 31 and 32 prevents afurther rise of the member 44 so that a constant supply of gas takesplace from the gas connection 33 through the tube 40, openings 42, cap43, tube 41 and the gas connection 34; this position of the parts isillustrated in Fig. 4. If however, the gas issuing from the burner isnot ignited or should the lamp be unintentionally extinguished withoutthe burner cook or the main gas cock being turned in its ofi-position,the thermostatic device 56 will not enter into operation, and air cantherefore constantly escape through the pipe 50. The float member 44will consequently rise to its highest position, whereupon the gas supplywill be cut off by the cap 43 entering the liquid within the annularspace 64. This position is shown in Fig. 5. The diflerent heights of theliquid are occasioned by the diflerent gas pressures existing within thetanks 31,32.

The small aperture 63 in the bottom of the float member insures a steadyand uniform movement of the float member 44, thus serving as a brakingdevice entirely free of mechanisms.

If the device should attain the position indicated in Fig. 5, the floatmember 44 will not of itself return to its original position but it isnecessary to provide some means for returning the member 44, such asshown on the drawings, viz. by depressing the knob 61 and consequentlythe ring 60. If desired of course this mechanical resetting mechanismmay be replaced by any suitable type of automatic reset-ting mechanism,although it is believed to be preferable to employ a resetting devicesuch as that illustrated on the drawings, which necessitates thepresence of the attendant, thus calling his attention to theirregularity.

Fig. 8 illustrates a construction differing only from that shown inFigs. 3-7 in that the float member 44 is constructed as an annularinverted bell opening downward. In this case the liquid braking deviceis dispensed with and in lieu thereof the upper end of the air outlettube 50 is constricted so as to leave a small outlet aperture 65 forthrottling the escape of air.

I claim 1. A device for gas burners for preventing the escape of unburntgas comprising an expansible chamber to which gas is supplied, a movablegas cut-off member independent of the burner gas cook and supported bysaid chamber and adapted, when the gas cock is opened, to move in onedirection, under the influence of the flow of gas into said chamber,into its cut-ofl position, a thermostat actuated by the heat of the gasflame, and arresting means controlled by said thermostat for arrestingthe cuttingoff movement of said member.

2. A device for gas burners for preventing the escape of unburnt gascomprising a liquid tank, a hollow member immersed in the liquid in saidtank and forming an expansible chamber to which gas is supplied, saidhollow member being adapted, when the burner gas cock is opened, to movein one direction under the influence of the flow of gas into saidchamber, a gas cutoff member carried by said hollow member and adaptedto be moved thereby to cut off the gas supply, a thermostat actuated bythe heat of the gas flame, and arresting means controlled by saidthermostat for arresting the movement of said hollow member and theconsequent cuttingofl movement of said gas cut-off device.

3. A device for gas burners for preventing the escape of unburnt gascomprising a liquid tank, a bell immersed in the liquid in said tank andforming an expansible chamber to which gas is supplied, said bell beingadapted, when the burner gas cock is opened, to move in one directionunder the influence of the flow of gas into said chamber, a gas cut-oflmember carried by said bell and adapted to be moved thereby to cut offthe gas supply, a thermostat actuated by the heat of the gas flame, andarresting means controlled by said thermostat for arresting the movementof said bell and the consequent cutting-off movement of said gas cut-oiidevice.

A. A device for gas burners for preventing the escape of unburnt gascomprising a liquid tank, an annular bell immersed in the liquid in saidtank and forming an expansible chamber to which gas is supplied, saidannular bell being adapted when the burner gas cook is opened, to movein one direction under the influence of the flow of gas into saidchamber, a gas cut-off member carried by said annular bell and adaptedto be moved thereby to cut off the gas supply, a thermostat actuated bythe heat of the gas flame, arresting means controlled by said thermostatfor arresting the movement of said annular bell and the consequentcutting-off movement of said gas cut-ofi dev1ce, and means for movingsaid annular bell in the opposite direction.

5. A device for gas burners for preventing the escape of unburnt gas,comprising in combination a liquid tank, inlet and outlet gasconnections thereto, a liquid seal normally permitting the inlet andoutlet of gas, a hollow member immersed in the liquid in said tank andforming an expansible chamber to which gas is supplied, said hollowmember being adapted, when the burner gas cock is opened, to moveupwardly under the influence of the flow of gas into said chamber, andto operate said liquid seal to cut oil? the gas supply, a thermostatactuated by the heat of the gas flame, arresting means controlled bysaid thermostat for arresting the movement of said hollow member and theconsequent gas cut oil by the liquid seal, and means for moving saidhollow member in the downward direction.

6. A device for gas burners for preventing the escape of unburnt gas,comprising in combination a liquid tank, a central gas inlet pipeopening into said tank above the liquid therein, a gas outlet connectionto said tank, a cap inverted over said gas inlet pipe, a liquid cupsurrounding said inlet pipe and cooperating with said cap, a hollowmember immersed in said tank and forming an expansible chamber, gasinlet connections to said expansible chamber, said hollow membercarrying said liquid seal and being adapted to move upwardly under theinfluence of the flow of gas into said chamber so as to raise saidliquid cup and immerse said cap in the liquid in said cup to cut ofl'the gas supply, a thermostat actuated by the heat of the gas flame,arresting means controlled by said thermostat for arresting the upwardmovement of said hollow member and the consequent out 01E of the gassupply, and means for moving said hollow member in the downwarddirection.

7. A device for gas burners for preventing the escape of unburnt gascomprising'an expansible chamber to which gas is sup-plied, a movablegas cut-off member independent of the burner gas cock and supported bysaid chamber and adapted, when the gas cock is opened, to move in onedirection under the influence of the flow of gas into said chamber, intoits cut-ofl" position, a fluid brake for braking the cutting-offmovement of said member, a thermostat actuated by the heat of the gasflame, arresting means controlled by said thermostat for arresting thecutt-ing-ofi' movement of said member, and means for moving said memberin the opposite direction.

8. A device for gas burners for prevent ing the escape of unburnt gascomprising an expansible chamber to which gas is supplied, a movable gascut-01f member independent of the burner gas cock and supported by saidchamber and adapted, when the gas cock is opened, to move in onedirection under the influence of the flow of gas into said chamber, intoits cut-ofl position, an air brake for braking the cutting-oil movementof said member, a thermostate actuated by the heat of the gas flame,arresting means controlled by said thermostat for arresting thecutting-0E movement of said member, .and means for moving said member inthe opposite direction.

9. A device for gas burners for preventing the escape of unburnt gascomprising closed liquid tank, inlet and outlet gas connections thereto,a hollow member immersed in the liquid in said tank and forming anexpansible chamber to which gas is supplied, said hollow member beingadapted when the burner gas cock is opened to move in one directionunder the influence of the flow of gas to said chamber and compress theair inclosed in said tank, an air outlet pipe for the air in said tank,a gas cut-oft member carried by said hollow member and adapted to bemoved thereby to out OK the gas supply, a closed chamber adapted to beheated by the gas flame piping from the said closed chamber, a loopedpipe open to the liquid in said tank and connected to said piping, onearm of said looped pipe opening into said tank around said air outletpipe and liquid in said looped pipe adapted to seal said air outlet pipeto arrest the movement of 5 said hollow member and the consequent cutting off movement of said gas cut-0E device, and means for moving saidhollow member in the opposite direction.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set 20 my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRIEDRICH HUTTENLOCHER.

Witnesses:

WOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HAsPER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patent Washington, D. G.

